Germany says supplying fighter jets to Ukraine is a step too far for west
Photograph: Fadel Senna/AFP/Getty ImagesPhotograph: Fadel Senna/AFP/Getty ImagesThe F-16 Fighting Falcon is a lightweight fighter aircraft that was initially designed as long ago as the 1970s. It first went into service in 1979, and was used heavily by the US airforce in both Iraq wars and in Afghanistan.
A curious feature of the Ukraine war has been its relatively limited use of air power. Russia’s anti-aircraft defences are considered effective, while Moscow has been very reluctant to risks its own air force beyond the front line, as it too wants to minimise losses. Former US Air Force general Philip BreedloveNevertheless, Kyiv is planning an offensive in the spring, while at the same time preparing to resist Moscow’s own efforts to break the current military deadlock.
One of the countries most sympathetic to helping Ukraine obtain F-16s, Poland, stressed on Monday it would only act in concert with Nato allies. Britain and Germany have also ruled out sending fighter jets in the past days. Estimates vary, but it could take four or six months to train pilots to a combat proficiency. The requirements go beyond pilots too: “An aircraft has to come with a weapons package, ground crew and support,” said Douglas Barrie with the IISS thinktank, meaning Ukraine will need spares and to train its own cadre of engineers. It is more complicated than learning how to use a western tank.In part that is a question of how F-16s many Ukraine could obtain.
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